H. Fonseca et al., POST HARVEST CONTROL OF AFLATOXIN PRODUCTION ON IN-SHELL MOIST PEANUTS BY SODIUM ORTHO-PHENYLPHENATE .2. HARVESTER TESTS, Revista de Microbiologia, 25(2), 1994, pp. 97-100
This work was carried out to optimize a spaying method for the applica
tion of sodium ortho-phenylphenate (SOP) solution on in-shell moist pe
anuts during crop gathering with a combine harvester, aiming at contro
l of aflatoxin production. In a previous work, it was verified that th
e SOP spraying operation under field conditions did not attain total p
od coverage, indicating the need for its optimization. In the present
work, SOP spraying was carried out during mechanical harvesting of the
1988 rainy season peanut crop. The spraying attachment was adapted to
a combine harvester and a 0.5% SOP solution used. Despite the improve
ments made for SOP application, technical problems were still encouter
ed, such as the accumulation of peanuts inside the bag filler pipe whi
ch hampered spraying efficiency. Both treated and control lots showed
an increase in initial aflatoxin levels during storage. High aflatoxin
contamination of treated samples may have occurred due to the still t
echnically inadequate coupling of the spraying attachment to the harve
ster and/or to a suboptimal SOP concentration used for the chemical co
ntrol of aflatoxin.